Capacity Building Needs and its impact on Micro Irrigation implementation

With dwindling water resources and manpower required for farming, the area expansion with introduction of micro irrigation systems is rapid. However, the success of drip irrigation systems depends on proper maintenance. The Water Technology Centre of TNAU implemented a capacity building project for the drip irrigated farmers of Western region of Tamil Nadu. The project was funded by M/s Tata Trusts. Mumbai with the technical collaboration from International Water Management Institute. Colombo and private organization M/ S.Jain Irrigation Systems Ltd. The main objectives of the project were to build the capacities of the drip irrigated farmers on periodical maintenance, empowering them with recommended festination techniques etc. The 1s phase of the project TN-DRIP was executed for three years from 2009-12 in Erode district of Tamil Nadu where the drip installations were the highest in the State. Subsequently, the 2"" phase of the project funded by M/s NavajbaiRatan Tata Trusts. Mumbai was implemented by WTC during 2013-16 and the uncovered areas of Erode district and the neighbouring Coimbatore and Tirupur districts were also included. Saturation approach was adopted in this project to cover the drip irrigated areas of the western region of Tamil Nadu.